2 ms·
> The protesters are trying to get public support behind them So what? Exercising their right to free speech does not "sabotage U.S. military". > so Microsoft
by pdkl95 8y ago
> The protesters are trying to get public support behind them
So what? Exercising their right to free speech does not "sabotage U.S. military".
> so Microsoft drops the contract completely,
Yes, effecting larger change is the purpose behind most political speech.
These employees are simply exercising their rights to speak their opinions, assemble with other like-minded people, and advocate for their political position to as wider audience in the press. To argue that they somehow don't have these rights denies the long history of SCOTUS decisions that support speech critical of the military or US policy.
- adventured 8y ago> To argue that they somehow don't have these rights denies the long history of SCOTUS decisions that support speech critical of the military or US policy. I strongly agree. The employees very clearly have the right to speak their minds, on their time. And they can quit if they disagree with the business path Microsoft ultimately chooses. Microsoft typically has the right to fire employees if they're not compatible with the business path that Microsoft chooses to pursue. Overall it's a simple context. Each side has to choose what's most important. Microsoft historically is nowhere near as ideologically driven as Google and other modern Silicon Valley companies, it's obvious what Microsoft will choose to do.
- pdkl95 8y ago> And they can quit if they disagree with the business path Microsoft ultimately chooses. Or, they can collectively petition, negotiate, or even apply direct political pressure against their employer. Is that what the real argument is about here? Lots of fear and anger that if engineers start to gain experience with the power of collective action, they might start to have notions about creating a union?